Biodegradable Drinking Cup Assembly

ABSTRACT

A biodegradable drinking cup assembly for serving hot and cold beverages includes a cup that defines an interior space. The cup comprises hemp fiber so that the cup is biodegradable. The cup, in an upright configuration, is configured to position a liquid in the interior space. The cup insulates a hot or cold beverage and is configured for composting after use.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to cup assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new cup assembly for serving hot and cold beverages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a cup that defines an interior space. The cup comprises hemp fiber so that the cup is biodegradable. The cup, in an upright configuration, is configured to position a liquid in the interior space. The cup insulates a hot or cold beverage and is configured for composting after use.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a biodegradable drinking cup assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new cup assembly embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the biodegradable drinking cup assembly 10 generally comprises a cup 12 that defines an interior space 14. The cup 12 comprises hemp fiber so that the cup 12 is biodegradable. The cup 12, in an upright configuration, is configured to position a liquid in the interior space 14. The cup 12 insulates a hot or cold beverage for a user and is configured to be composted after use.

The cup 12 comprises an annular wall 16 that extends from a bottom 18 to a top 20. The bottom 18 is closed while the top 20 is open. A lip 22 is coupled to and extends radially from the top 20. The bottom 18 and the top 20 are circularly shaped. The top 20 is circumferentially larger than the bottom 18 so that the cup 12 is inverted frustum shaped. The top 20 being open, and the cup 12 being inverted frustum shaped, allow a plurality of the cups 12 to be positioned in a nested configuration.

A lid 24 is selectively couplable to the lip 22 to close the top 20. The lid 24 is configured to retain the liquid in the interior space 14. The lid 24 comprises hemp fiber so that the lid 24 is biodegradable.

The lid 24 comprises a shell 26 that defines an internal space 28. The shell 26 has an upper face 30 and a lower face 32, which is open. The lower face 32 is positioned to insert the lip 22 into the internal space so that the lid 24 is substantially sealably coupled to the cup 12 to retain the liquid in the interior space 14. The upper face 30 is circumferentially smaller than the lower face 32 so that the lid 24 is frustum shaped. The lower face 32 being open, and the lid 24 being frustum shaped, allow a plurality of the lids 24 to be positioned in a nested configuration.

A recess 34 extends into the shell 26 from the upper face 30 to define a channel 36 that extends annularly around a perimeter 38 of the shell 26, as shown in FIG. 2. The channel 36 is substantially complementary to the lip 22 and is positioned to insert the lip 22 so that the lid 24 is substantially sealably coupled to the cup 12 to retain the liquid in the interior space 14.

A hole 40 is positioned in the upper face 30 of the shell 26 proximate to the perimeter 38. The hole 40 is substantially circularly shaped. The hole 40 is configured to allow the liquid to exit the interior space 14 as the cup 12 is tilted from the upright configuration. The hole 40 also is configured to selectively insert a straw, positioning a user to draw the liquid through the straw.

A panel 42 is coupled to and extends from the upper face 30 of the shell 26. The panel 42 is positioned adjacent to the hole 40. The panel 42 is configured to facilitate drinking of the liquid as the cup 12 is tilted from the upright configuration. The panel 42 tapers from a midpoint 44 to opposing ends 46 so that the panel 42 is arcuate. The panel 42 extends arcuately from the upper face 30 over the recess 34, as shown in FIG. 3.

In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of slits 48 is positioned in the lid 24 so that the slits 44 intersect at a center 50 of the upper face 30 to define a plurality of tabs 52. The plurality of slits 48 comprises four slits 44 that define eight tabs 52. The plurality of tabs 52 is configured to bend into the interior space 14 as the straw is pushed through the plurality of tabs 52 into the interior space 14.

In use, the cup 12 is used to hold and insulate the hot or cold beverage. The lid 24 may be coupled to the lip 22 to retain the liquid in the cup 12. The user is positioned to sip the liquid through the hole 40 or through a straw that is positioned in the hole 40. The cup 12 is configured to be composted after use.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

1. A biodegradable drinking cup assembly comprising: a cup defining an interior space, the cup comprising hemp fiber such that the cup is biodegradable wherein the cup in an upright configuration is configured for positioning a liquid in the interior space, the cup comprising an annular wall extending from a bottom to a top, the bottom being closed, the top being open; a lip coupled to and extending radially from the top; a lid selectively couplable to the lip for closing the top, the lid comprising hemp fiber such that the lid is biodegradable, wherein the lid is configured for retaining the liquid in the interior space, the lid comprising a shell defining an internal space, the shell having an upper face and a lower face, the lower face being open wherein the lower face is positioned for inserting the lip into the internal space such that the lid is substantially sealably coupled to the cup for retaining the liquid in the interior space; a recess extending into the shell from the upper face defining a channel extending annularly around a perimeter of the shell, the channel being substantially complementary to the lip wherein the channel is positioned for inserting the lip such that the lid is substantially sealably coupled to the cup for retaining the liquid in the interior space; a hole positioned in the upper face of the shell offset from a center of the lid and proximate to the perimeter wherein the hole is configured for exiting of the liquid as the cup is tilted from the upright configuration and wherein the hole is configured for selectively inserting a straw positioning a user for drawing the liquid through the straw; and a panel coupled to and extending upwardly away from the upper face of the shell, the panel being positioned adjacent to the hole such that the panel is configured to receive and collect the liquid exiting the hole wherein the panel is configured for facilitating drinking of the liquid as the cup is tilted from the upright configuration.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The assembly of claim 1, further including the bottom and the top being circularly shaped.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, further including the top being circumferentially larger than the bottom such that the cup is inverted frustum shaped wherein a plurality of the cups is configured for positioning in a nested configuration.
 5. (canceled)
 6. (canceled)
 7. The assembly of claim 1, further including the upper face being circumferentially smaller than the lower face so that the lid is frustum shaped wherein a plurality of the lids is configured for positioning in a nested configuration.
 8. (canceled)
 9. The assembly of claim 1, further including the hole being substantially circularly shaped.
 10. (canceled)
 11. The assembly of claim 1, further including the panel tapering from a midpoint to opposing ends such that the panel is arcuate, the panel extending arcuately from the upper face over the recess.
 12. The assembly of claim 1, further including a plurality of slits positioned in the lid such that the slits intersect at a center of the upper face defining a plurality of tabs wherein the plurality of tabs is configured for bending into the interior space as a straw is pushed through the plurality of tabs into the interior space
 13. The assembly of claim 12, further including the plurality of slits comprising four slits defining eight tabs.
 14. A biodegradable drinking cup assembly comprising: a cup defining an interior space, the cup comprising hemp fiber such that the cup is biodegradable wherein the cup in an upright configuration is configured for positioning a liquid in the interior space, the cup comprising an annular wall extending from a bottom to a top, the bottom being closed, the top being open, the bottom and the top being circularly shaped, the top being circumferentially larger than the bottom such that the cup is inverted frustum shaped wherein a plurality of the cups is configured for positioning in a nested configuration; a lip coupled to and extending radially from the top; a lid selectively couplable to the lip for closing the top, the lid comprising hemp fiber such that the lid is biodegradable, wherein the lid is configured for retaining the liquid in the interior space, the lid comprising a shell defining an internal space, the shell having an upper face and a lower face, the lower face being open wherein the lower face is positioned for inserting the lip into the internal space such that the lid is substantially sealably coupled to the cup for retaining the liquid in the interior space, the upper face being circumferentially smaller than the lower face so that the lid is frustum shaped wherein a plurality of the lids is configured for positioning in a nested configuration; a recess extending into the shell from the upper face defining a channel extending annularly around a perimeter of the shell, the channel being substantially complementary to the lip wherein the channel is positioned for inserting the lip such that the lid is substantially sealably coupled to the cup for retaining the liquid in the interior space; a hole positioned in the upper face of the shell offset from a center of the lid and proximate to the perimeter wherein the hole is configured for exiting of the liquid as the cup is tilted from the upright configuration and wherein the hole is configured for selectively inserting a straw positioning a user for drawing the liquid through the straw, the hole being substantially circularly shaped; a panel coupled to and extending upwardly and away from the upper face of the shell, the panel being positioned adjacent to the hole such that the panel is configured to receive and collect the liquid exiting the hole wherein the panel is configured for facilitating drinking of the liquid as the cup is tilted from the upright configuration, the panel tapering from a midpoint to opposing ends such that the panel is arcuate, the panel extending arcuately from the upper face over the recess; and a plurality of slits positioned in the lid such that the slits intersect at a center of the upper face defining a plurality of tabs wherein the plurality of tabs is configured for bending into the interior space as the straw is pushed through the plurality of tabs into the interior space, the plurality of slits comprising four slits defining eight tabs. 